Saudi sacks minister after Takfiri channel shutdown Saudi Arabia has sacked the countrys minister of culture and information after he ordered the closure of an extremist Takfiri TV channel. Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz issued a royal decree on Wednesday, removing Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja from his post and appointing Pilgrimage Affairs Minister Bandar Haggar as acting minister. The move came hours after the minister announced on a social media website the closure of the Wesal television channels office in Riyadh, and an end to its broadcasts. “I gave orders to shut down the office of Wesal in Riyadh and to ban any broadcasting of the channel from Saudi Arabia,” Khoja posted on his Twitter account. The former minister did not specify the reasons for banning the TV channel, but said the ministry would not hesitate to take action against any media that attempts to undermine the “nation’s unity, security and stability.” Wesal has reportedly aired programs and messages hostile to Shia Muslims. Saudi Arabias Shia community has long complained about discrimination. On Monday, masked gunmen attacked a Shia gathering as mourners were marking Ashura, which commemorates the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the third Shia Imam. The attack by unknown assailants in al-Ahsa, the largest governorate in Saudi Arabias restive Eastern Province, left five Saudi Shiites dead and more than 30 others injured. MOS/HMV/SS presstv.ir/detail/2014/11/05/384921/saudi-sacks-min-after-tv-shutdown/
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 23:09:56 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015